Steering-wheel for traction-engines.



G. W. PRICE.

STEERING WHEEL FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 050.29, 1914.

1,151,713. 7 Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

A TTORIVEY COLUMBIA PumouRAPH CO..WASH!NGTON. D. c.

G. W. PRICE.

STEERING WHEEL FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.29, 1914.

1 1 5 l ,7 l 8. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E d E j $7-4.

A TTOR/VEY coumsm PLANOURAPH LID-,WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNTTEfi TATE PATENT @FFTQE.

GOMER W. PRICE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HENRY L. SMITH, OF

' SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

STEERING-WHEEL FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

Application filed December 29, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GoMER 1V. PRICE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county ofAlameda and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Steering- Wheels for Traction-Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates generally to traction engines and similar heavyvehicles in which a single front wheel is used as a tiller orsteering-wheel, and it relates particularly to said front wheels andtheir mounting construction.

The front-wheel construction generally in use, where a single wheel. isemployed as a tiller, assumes one of several forms. The wheel is eithermounted in a rigid or nonspring frame, or it has a spring at each end ofthe wheel axle, or it has a conical yoke coming to a point overhead andthere spring mounted.

Experience has shown that the spring mounted tiller or steering-wheel isa necessity, but the types of spring suspension so far adopted have beenvery unsatisfactory, owing to the peripheral tongue or projection on thetread of the wheel, which tongue is supposed to set or bite deep enoughin the soil to be of use for steering purposes. WVhen thistongue is onhard ground, or when in soft ground, it sinks deep enough to rest theface of the wheel on the soil its full width, the result is that thewheel will tilt so that the tongue and one edge of the face of the wheelonly will bear on the ground. If the wheel is turned to the right, thenthe tongue and the right hand edge of the wheel face will bear on theground. If turned to the left, the left hand edge and the tongue willbear on the ground and will remain in this position until turned in theopposite direction. This results in making it practically impossible toguide or steer the tractor in a straight line or to make proper turns.

The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty, and to thisend my invention consists in the novel steering or front-wheelconstructions which I shall hereinafter fully Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Serial No. 879,567.

describe by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa plan view of my steeringwheel construction in its preferred form. Fig.2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 1s a plan view of a modifiedconstruction. Fig. l is an elevation of the same.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2,1 is the turn-table, usually made ofchannel iron with the flanges extending outwardly so that it may receiveand carry a steering chain 2. This turn-table also carries the weight ofthe front portion of the tractor frame, by means of a number of suitableanti-friction hangers. One of these hangers 3, I show in Fig. 2. Itcarries a roller L above and a roller 5 below the channel ironturn-table, and a third roller 6 running over the face of the channelflanges. Across the turn-table extend the rigid parallel bars 7 lying inchords on each side of a diameter, said bars being rigidly attached attheir ends to the inner face of the turntable.

8 is the steering wheel having the median circumferential tongue orprojection 9. 10 is the wheel frame diametrically embracing said wheeland in which the wheel is mounted by its shaft or axle 11, which isfastened rigidly in the frame, and on which the wheel rotates.

On the forward end of the frame 10, are the uprising extensions 12, oneon each side. These extensions rise within the turn-table bars 7 nearthe forward ends thereof and they are connected with said bars by the ofthe rollers of the hangers. The steering Wheel being connected with theturn-table as described is propelled thereby; and the front end of thetractor is thus supported by said wheel, through the hinges 13 andspring 17, which also compensate for any variation in the contour of theground. This construction by its lateral rigid bracing of the wheel,entirely overcomes the tendency of said wheel to ride on one side or theother.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I haveindicated like parts by the same numerals. In this form, however, thesteering-wheel frame, instead of being hinged to the turn-table barsthrough the intervention of uprising extensions, is

hinged directly to said bars, preferably by a through pintle rod 13running through a distance piece 20. This form of the construction whilegiving the necessary rigid lateral bracing to effect the result desired,namely, to overcome the tendency of the wheel to ride on one side or theother, limits the diameter of the tiller wheel, or, if the maximumdiameter be used as is sometimes required in plowing in very soft soils,then the turn-table becomes too large in diameter to be practical. Forthis reason the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is to bepreferred, for by reason of its extensions 12, the wheel frame at itsforward end may drop below and therefore extend fully to or even projectbeyond the turn-table, this pro viding for a wheel of larger diameterwithout increasing the diameter of the turn table.

7 I claim 1. In steering-wheel construction for vehicles, thecombination of a turn-table means for rotatably connecting saidturn-table with the vehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to saidturn-table; a steering wheel; a rigid frame diametrically embracing andcarrying said wheel; a hinge connection between one end of the wheelframe and the cross bars of the turn-table; and a resilient bearingbetween the other end of the wheel frame and said turn-table.

2. In steering-wheel construction for vehicles,the combination of aturn-table means for rotatably connecting said turn-table with thevehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to said turn-table; a steeringwheel; a rigid frame diametrically embracing and carrying saidwheel; ahinge connection between one end of the wheel frame and the cross barsof the turn-table; and a resilient bearing seated centrally between theother end of the wheel frame and said turn-table.

3. In steering-wheel construction for vehicles, the combination of aturn-table; means for rotatably, connecting said turn-table with thevehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to said turn-table; a steeringwheel; a rigid frame diametrically embracing and carrying said wheel; ahinge connection between one end of the wheel frame and the cross barsof the turn-table; fixed guides depending from the turn-table, connectedat their lower ends by a rod, said guides passing down on each side ofthe wheel frame at its other end; and a spring'bearing between said endof the wheel frame and the turntable.

4:. In a steering-wheel construction for vehicles, the combination of aturn-table means for rotatably connecting said turn-table with thevehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to said turn-table; a steeringwheel; a rigid frame diametrically embracing and carrying said wheel,said frame throughout its length lying below the level of the turntableand having near one end extensions which rise within the turn-table toits cross bars; hinge connections between said extensions and the crossbars of the turn-table; and a resilient bearing between the other end ofthe wheel frame and said turn-table.

5. In a steering-wheel construction for ve hicles, the combination of aturn-table means for rotatably connecting said turn-table with thevehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to said turn-table; a steeringwheel; a rigid frame diametrically embracing and carrying said wheel,said frame throughout its length lying below the level of the turn-tableand having near one end extensions which rise within the turn-table toits cross'bars; hinge connections between said extensions and the crossbars of the turn-table; and a resilient bearing seated centrally betweenthe other end of the wheel frame and said turntable.

6. In a steering-wheel construction for vehicles, the combination of aturn-table; means for rotatably connecting said turntable with thevehicle frame; cross bars rigidly secured to said turntable; a steeringwheel; a rigid frame diametrically embrac ing and carrying said wheel,said frame throughout its length lying below the level of the turn-tableand having near one end extensions which rise within the turn-table toits cross bars: hinge connections between said extensions and the crossbars of the turn-table; fixed guides depending from the turn-table,connected at their lower ends by a rod, said guides passing down on eachside of the wheel frame at its other end; and a spring bearing seatedcentrally between saidend of the wheel frame and the turn-table.

7. In a steering-wheel construction for vehicles, the combination of aturn-table;

hangers depending from the vehicle frame and provided with rollers, onebearing on the upper face, one on the lower face and one on the outerface of the turn-table, whereby said turn-table is rotatably connectedWith the Vehicle rrame; bars rigidly In testimony whereof I have signedmy secured to said turn-table; a steering Wheel; name to thisspecification in the presence of 10 a rigid frame diametricallyembracing and two subscribing Witnesses.

carrying said Wheel a hinge connection between one end of tlie Wheelframe and the GOMER PRICE cross bars of the turn-table; and a resilientWitnesses:

bearing between the other end of the Wheel WM. F. BOOTH,

frame and said turn-table. D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

